What to Expect After a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a metal post surgically placed in your jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. It feels like your natural tooth after a recovery period, which usually lasts 4 to 6 months: it neither slips nor causes bone damage. 

Immediately after the dental implant surgery, when anesthesia wears off, you might feel certain discomfort:

• swelling;
• soreness;
• bleeding;
• bruising. 

These symptoms are considered normal and typically cease in a week. An oral surgeon can prescribe you regular painkillers to eliminate discomfort during the dental implant post-op phase.

Immediate Post-Op Instructions for Dental Implants

Your oral surgeon will likely thoroughly instruct you on dental implants care after surgery. However, it might be convenient to have precise guidelines at hand whenever you want to check on some significant details, including the side effects of treatment.

Managing Bleeding 

Bleeding can last on the first and second day after dental implant surgery. This is a natural response of your body to the procedure and a normal part of the healing process. To manage bleeding, you can use cool packs on the affected area.

Swelling and Bruising

Swelling is another typical side effect of oral surgery. You can minimize it by applying cold compresses to your cheeks, chin, and jaw for the first 48 hours after getting the treatment. Keep them about half an hour on and 30 minutes off. Facial swelling can diminish if you keep your head elevated by lying down on two pillows.

Sometimes, patients experience minor bruising during the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. It will usually come off on its own throughout the healing process. Be sure not to touch your implant with your fingers or tongue.

Pain Management

Before getting a dental implant, inform your oral surgeon about any allergies you experienced in the past and any medications you currently take. Based on this data, the doctor may prescribe specific painkillers to help minimize any painful sensations after the surgery. Contact your dentist if you experience extremely unbearable or persistent pain.

Oral Hygiene After Dental Implant Surgery

Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for dental implant after-surgery care. Be careful to keep the implant site and surrounding teeth clean to promote healing and prevent an infection. 

First 24-48 Hours

Avoid brushing or flossing the implant site for the first 24 hours after dental implantation. Vigorous brushing can irritate the implant area and lead to damage or infection. A warm salt water rinse will help you keep the area clean.

Using Saltwater Rinses

Rinsing your oral cavity with warm salt water will help you maintain the implant site clean after surgery and diminish the risk of infection. Mix 0,5 tsp. of salt with 1 cup water and use this solution every 2-3 hours. Avoid any vigorous movements: simply hold the solution in your mouth for several seconds and spit it out. Use saltwater rinses for a few days, then reduce the frequency to 3-4 times per day for the next 2 weeks.

When to Resume Regular Brushing

You may resume regular tooth brushing the day after the procedure, but keep the brush out of the operated area. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and avoid rinsing briskly. After the initial healing period of 7–10 days, you can return to your consistent oral care.

Dietary Recommendations

Immediate dental implant care after surgery implies drinking plenty of cool liquids. Avoid using straws as sucking motion can provoke more bleeding. Keep away from extremely hot meals or drinks.

For the first 10 days to 2 weeks, stick to a soft, non-chewing diet so that the gum tissue entirely heals. This will let you reduce the post-operational discomfort, feel better, and rejuvenate faster. Avoid hard foods that can harm the gums, such as nuts, chips, or popcorn. 

Activity and Rest Guidelines

Most patients can resume their regular daily activities in three days following the surgery. However, you might need more rest if you fall into one of the categories:

• have several implants positioned during the procedure;
• have a tooth extraction and implant placement on the same day;
• are a senior.

Sticking to activity instructions after dental implant surgery launches the initial healing and minimizes the risk of complications, including implant failure.

Activity directions

Recovery time after dental implants	Recommendations
The first 1-2 days after dental surgery	Avoid high-intensity physical activities: the implant site has to heal properly. Exercising might cause post-operational bleeding or discomfort.
1-2 weeks of recovery	Minimize your physical activities; take plenty of rest and relax. After 2 weeks pass, you may gradually resume your physical activities unless a dentist tells you otherwise.

Safe exercises

The number of positioned implants and how your body is healing affect the exact recovery time for a tooth implant. Low-intensity exercises can promote healing without risking the implant site:

• walking; 
• light jogging; 
• stretching;
• yoga. 

Risky sports

Some strenuous exercises and activities can cause complications after dental implant surgery. Keep away from:

• contact sports (ice hockey, football, lacrosse, etc.);
• weightlifting;
• wrestling;
• boxing.

By engaging in these activities, you can cause bleeding, swelling, or even damage the surgical area. Besides, high-intensity workouts put a lot of pressure on your body and postpone healing. After the surgical site smoothly heals, you may safely return to your regular workout routine. Don’t neglect the short resting period to minimize the risk of complications.

Rest guidelines

Plenty of rest after implant surgery isn’t a mere whimsy but a necessity. Ensure you get enough rest and take a few days off from work to allow your body to heal properly. It is vital to relax during the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Then you may return to light everyday activities.

Signs of Potential Complications Following Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery boasts a high success rate: for patients with good general health, thorough oral hygiene habits, and a fully grown jawbone, implants are successful 90%–95% of the time. When a doctor follows all surgical protocols, dental implantation has no more risks than any other surgical procedure. However, certain complications are possible after fitting an implant.

Potential complication	Symptoms	Solution
Peri-implantitis — an infection of a dental implant that might lead to its rejection.	Bleeding of the gums;inflammation of the gums near the surgical site;bone loss; localized pain around the implant;formation of pus;implant mobility.	Contact your oral surgeon as soon as you notice the warning symptoms: the doctor will perform a specific procedure to prolong the implant’s lifespan.
Failure of osseointegration — the positioned implant doesn’t fuse with the jawbone due to an insufficient bone density.	Severe pain or discomfort;swelling;inflammation of the gums;the implant becomes loose.	This case is extremely rare: the oral surgeon usually meticulously analyses the patient’s bone condition before performing the procedure. When there is a lack of bone density, bone grafting is carried out.  If a patient has an allergy to titanium (a biocompatible implant material), an oral surgeon offers to replace the implant with a zirconia one.
Pain and swelling for over a week	Localized pain and swelling of the gums are considered normal several days after the dental implant insertion. However, if the symptoms remain for more than a week, these are the warning signs.	Consult your doctor as soon as possible to prevent potential complications.

Undergoing the procedure of dental implantation can help restore your smile’s aesthetics and functional integrity. Proper aftercare for dental implants is crucial for a successful and long-term tooth replacement. Though much depends on your doctor’s professional expertise, you can also accelerate recovery after a tooth implant with mindful management at home. Our post-surgical care tips can help you greatly minimize discomfort throughout dental implant recovery and increase the success rate of the dental implant in the jawbone.

Dental Implant Aftercare: Most Common Questions

Our answers to these common post-dental implant care questions can help you clarify what to do after dental implant surgery to get the most out of your investment. 

Additional Resources

If you are still in doubt about whether to invest in a dental implant or not, acknowledge these encouraging statistics — recent evaluation of survival rates of dental implants and long-term clinical performance of dental implants.